Yasmin Raeis Headlines the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of Aswan International Women Film Festival

Yasmin Raeis Headlines the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of Aswan International Women Film Festival

Two films starring superstar Yasmin Raeis will screen at the 2nd Aswan International Women Film Festival (AIWFF) (20 - 26 February). The festival will open its festive programmes with Looking for Oum Kulthum by director Shirin Nashat, while Kiss Me Not by director Ahmed Amer will mark the closing film of the festival. This comes ahead of the commercial release of Kiss Me Not in Egyptian theatres starting February 28.

Looking for Oum Kulthum follows the character of the Arab world's renowned singer Oum Kulthum as a woman who was able to break down societal, religious, political and national barriers in her eastern society. The film was shot in Morocco and Austria and it is a co-production between German, Austrian, Italian and Moroccan companies.

Looking for Oum Kulthum landed its world premiere at the 74th Venice Film Festival where it competed in the Giornate Degli Autori (Venice Days)section. The film has also been to several film festivals, including: the 42nd Toronto International Film Festival within the Contemporary World Cinema section and the 61st BFI London Film Festival within the Experimenta Special Presentation section.

Kiss Me Not follows a young and ambitious Egyptian director who faces issues while shooting a kissing scene in his new film with the leading actress Fajr who decides to pursue a more religious path. Along with Yasmin Raeis, the film co-stars Mohamed Mahran, Salwa Mohamed Ali and Aida Riad with guest stars actress Sawsan Badr, late director Mohamed Khan and director Khairy Beshara. Kiss Me Not is written and directed by Ahmed Amer. The film is produced by Middlewest Films, WIKA for Film Production and Distribution and MAD Solutions, and distributed by MAD Distribution.

The film landed its world premiere within the 14th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) as part of the Arabian Nights programme and received a Special Mention at the Jounieh International Film Festival (JIFF).

Yasmin Raeis won 6 awards for her role in late director Mohamed Khan's Factory Girl, including: the Best Actress Award at the Dubai International Film Festival, Best Actress Award at the Malmo Arab Film Festival in Sweden, Best Actress Award at the 18th Egyptian National Film Festival, Best Actress Award at the 41st Egyptian Film Association Festival, Best Actress Award at the Silk Road Film Festival in Dublin, Ireland, and most recently, a Special Mention from the Jury of Feature Film at the International Oriental Film Festival in Geneva.